By Paul Nyathi|Former MDC legislature for Harare West Jessie Majome has been shortlisted in a list of eleven prominent lawyers to attend public interviews for the Prosecutor-General’s post.

The former prolific opposition parliamentarian was dismissed from the country’s biggest opposition the MDC when she contested as an independent candidate in the July elections.

The post fell vacant following the suspension and subsequent resignation of Advocate Ray Goba in July.

Critics have questioned Majome’s commitment to the opposition politics by applying for the job which the ruling ZANU PF has previously used to persecute opposition activists.

Other lawyers included on the shortlist is former High Court Judge Maphios Cheda, Acting Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi and Bulawayo lawyer Tavengwa Hara.

In a statement the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said the interviews will be held in public.

“The Judicial Service Commission wishes to advise the public that following invitation to members of the public and to His Excellency, the President, to nominate suitably qualified persons to be appointed to the position of Prosecutor General of Zimbabwe in terms of Section 259 as read with Section 180 (4) of the Constitution the Commission received 11 valid nominations.

“Starting at 9AM on Thursday November 1, 2018 at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, the Commission will conduct interviews in public of the following 11 candidates…,” read the statement.

Other shortlisted candidates are former deputy prosecutor general Mrs Florence Ziyambi, Law Society of Zimbabwe president Misheck Hogwe, lawyers Wendy Mangeya, Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, Edmund Edios Marondedza and Calvin Tichaona Mantsebo and Ms Noria Mashumba.

Adv Goba was suspended on allegations of failing to prosecute high-profile cases, travelling abroad without Cabinet authority and use of abusive language, among other charges.

Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) employees were yesterday sentenced to 36 months imprisonment each by a Harare magistrate after they were convicted of undercharging goods belonging to the wife of Energy minister Joram Gumbo, Eristinah, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Tendai Hombiro and Moses Nyango, who pleaded not guilty to the charges of criminal abuse of office, appeared before magistrate Hosea Mujaya.

However, Hombiro and Nyango will serve 27 months effective jail time after the magistrate suspended nine months on condition of good behaviour.

The duo denied the offence, saying Eristinah was trying to use her husband’s influence in government to get them convicted.

The court heard that on May 16 this year, Eristinah presented her declaration of duty form to Hombiro and Nyango, who were stationed at RGM International Airport national handling services, and they undercharged her duty by $1 447, as she was made to pay $489 instead of $1 936.

After noting that her duty was undercharged, Eristinah raised alarm to Gumbo, who then informed the Zimra management and ordered them to resolve the matter.

A second examination was carried out on the consignment and it was discovered that the duo had undercharged duty.

It was also discovered that on the same day, the duo met Loice Chakanyuka, who presented her airway bill and declaration form for her goods to be cleared.

The duo carried out physical examination on the consignment, which was coming from China under the name of Tapiwa.

An assessment of duty was made and a duty of $489 was made to be paid on receipt.

The goods, which included pants and headphones, were said to be weighing 80kg with a total value of $300.

The court heard that Hombiro and Nyango, who are public officers, intentionally omitted to weigh the consignment as per Zimra norm and the goods were re-examined and they found out that they were weighing 92kg.

The ZANU PF Murehwa North parliamentary candidate, Daniel Garwe, who dumped his wife for a girlfriend, has been slapped with a two month jail term.

He received a suspended two months imprisonment for resisting an order stopping him from stripping two farms in Harare and Mvuma, pending divorce at the higher court.

His estranged wife Ms Miriam Garwe had obtained a court order in June this year, stopping the legislator from taking or in any way disposing of any of the assets held under the family companies and family trust.

But in defiance, Garwe took away part of the matrimonial property, prompting the wife to file contempt of court charges against him.

Justice Silvia Chirawu-Mugomba heard the matter and found Garwe in contempt of court. She said Garwe deserved censure.

She did not hesitate to impose a 60-day imprisonment wholly suspended on condition that he complied with the court order.

“In the event that the respondent fails to comply forthwith with . . . the applicant (Miriam Lilieth) is entitled to lodge a complaint on oath with the registrar of this court, who shall upon receipts of such complaint, issue a warrant of committal against the respondent (Garwe) for him to serve the suspended sentence,” said Justice Chirawu-Mugomba.

At the hearing of the contempt of court charges, Garwe was challenged to prove that he was not in wilful defiance of the court order. The legislator claimed he could not comply with the court order on the grounds that he was busy with elections campaign in his constituency.

He had also requested to be given until August 1 to comply with court judgments. But Justice Chirawu-Mugomba noted that Garwe’s request ignored the fact that the court order required him to comply with the court decision forthwith.

“He has failed to show how the campaigning prevented him from complying with a court order,” she said.

“His attitude seems to be that of a person who seeks to be excused from complying with a court order simply because he was taking part in an election process.

“To allow such conduct would be tantamount to throwing spanners in the rule of law.”

The couple’s marriage is on the rocks, hence an action for divorce is pending in this court.

At the centre of the divorce is the issue of what constitutes assets of the spouses.

During the subsistence of their marriage, the couple conducted family businesses through and held family assets in family companies and family trust namely: Planet Building Contractors (Pvt) Ltd, Hastream Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Macheke Motors (Pvt) Ltd t/a Sebakwe Range Farm; Kudakawashe and Tafadzwa Garwe Family Trust.- additional reporting -state media

State Media – MDC-Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s attempt to have Harare Magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo’s ruling denying the temporary release of his passport overturned, failed at the High Court yesterday.

Mr Mapfumo dismissed Biti’s application for the release of his passport on September 26 on the basis that he is a flight risk since he was arrested while attempting to flee the country.

High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewera, who dismissed Biti’s latest application, said he was in agreement with Mr Mapfumo’s judgment.

He, however, ruled that Biti will be removed from remand and given his passport back if he is not given a trial date on his next remand hearing.

Biti, through his lawyers — Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Messrs Alec Muchadehama, Harrison Nkomo, Gift Mtisi and Denford Halimani — made an application for the release of his passport from September 26 to October 23 for him to attend counselling sessions for post-traumatic disorder in South Africa and a conference organised by Pan-African lawyers’ Union in Tunisia.

The State, represented by Mr Michael Reza, opposed the application, stating that there was no need for him to go for treatment in South Africa because he was invited for medical treatment yet he had not indicated that he was not well.

Biti is facing charges of inciting violence and contravening Section 66A (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13, which prohibits the unofficial or false declaration of election results.

He is alleged to have unlawfully declared opposition party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa as the winner in the presidential elections held on July 30.

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Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and wife Mary on Thursday following their return from South Africa last night.

The Chiwengas were in South Africa for the past two weeks where they were being treated for what Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet George Charamba said was illness and fatigue resulting from the White City bomb blast.

VP Chiwenga and wife landed at Manyame Airbase aboard a private aircraft on Tuesday.

Jane Mlambo| Controversial preacher, Walter Magaya’s spokesman, Oscar Pambuka today appeared on trial for allegedly looting public funds.

The ZBC Head of News and current affairs, Tazzen Mandizvidza today appeared as a state witness against the fellow journalist and television personality.

Mandizvidza told Harare Magistrate, Lazini Ncube that he was not aware of Pambuka’s involvement in a scam that prejudiced ZESA of tens of thousands of dollars.

“Such government diaries come through me and other journalistsbut it has to be proved or given a go ahead in the diary meeting.

“In this case that did not happen and ZBC was not given this diary by the accused persons nor their company, fruitful communications,” said Mandizvidza.

Pambuka was arrested together with former Member of Parliament for Highfield, Psychology Maziwisa.

The two are both owners of Fruitful Communications, a company hired by ZESA to offer public relations consultancy services.

The matter has already landed Former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge in jail after he was convicted of criminal abuse of office when he awarded the tender to Pambuka and Maziwisa.

Tawanda Borererwe represented the two accused persons in place of Mr Jonathan Samukange.

Jane Mlambo| A local anti graft lobby group, Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACTSA) has exposed the alleged involvement of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and other local banks in fueling the parallel foreign currency market, calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to decisively deal with those involved in order to end the illegal operations that has plunged the country into an economic crisis.

ACTSA director, Obert Chinhamo urged Mnangagwa to restore order in the financial sector as the situation risks degenerating into civil strife and mayhem.

“Who shall then guard the guard when the name such as RBZ itself is implicated in buying United States dollars from the black market?

“This underscores the urgent need for President Mnangagwa to quickly move in and restore order in the country lest we experience for the second time, the pain equal to what we experienced in 2008,” Chinhamo said.

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Jane Mlambo| ZBC Head of News and current affairs, Tazzen Mandizvidza today appeared as a state witness against fellow journalist and television personality Oscar Pambuka who is on trial for allegedly looting public funds.

Mandizvidza told Harare Magistrate, Lazini Ncube that he was not aware of Pambuka’s involvement in a scam that prejudiced ZESA of tens of thousands of dollars.

“Such government diaries come through me and other journalistsbut it has to be proved or given a go ahead in the diary meeting.

“In this case that did not happen and ZBC was not given this diary by the accused persons nor their company, fruitful communications,” said Mandizvidza.

Pambuka was arrested together with former Member of Parliament for Highfield, Psychology Maziwisa.

The two are both owners of Fruitful Communications, a company hired by ZESA to offer public relations consultancy services.

The matter has already landed Former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge in jail after he was convicted of criminal abuse of office when he awarded the tender to Pambuka and Maziwisa.

Tawanda Borererwe represented the two accused persons in place of Mr Jonathan Samukange.

By Paul Nyathi|Prominent youth activist Wellington Zindove who has been suffering from cancer for a long time is reported to have passed on in Harare on Wednesday afternoon.

Friends close to him revealed to ZimEye.com that the young activists who civil society recently ran a fundraising petition to raise funds for his treatment failed to recover from the cancer.

Zindove, popularly known as Zindi, was one of Zimbabwe’s vibrant youth empowerment advocates of the Youth Forum, was diagnosed with Cancer of The Colon.

His doctors had recommended that he undergoes chemotherapy as a matter of urgency. This process has multiple sessions which in total cost $32 000.

Wellington was an activist since his days at University of Zimbabwe 2000-2004 where he was a member of the Students Representative Council. In 2006 he helped form the Zimbabwe Youth Movement as a platform for activism related to issues affecting youths of Zimbabwe.

He later joined the Youth Forum where he has been a Coordinator. Among some of the projects he led are Peace-Building initiatives, Youth Empowerment initiatives and numerous capacity building programs in Zimbabwe.

Zindove was 39 years and left behind his wife and three children.

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MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima has expressed disappointment with Kwekwe mayor Angeline Kasipo’s failure to attend meetings to discuss issues affecting residents in the city.

At a meeting with Kwekwe journalists at the weekend, Mavhima urged the Kasipo-led council, which is faced with many challenges, to set aside inter-party conflicts and focus on service delivery.

“We had a meeting with local authorities last week and for some reason, the mayor of Kwekwe decided she had more important business to attend to, so she did not attend. I was not enthused by that because the mayor of Gweru was there and the chairperson of Zvishavane Town Council was also there and these are opposition-led municipalities,” he said.

“Let’s not take our political battles to the extent that they affect the ratepayers. When we call for meetings, we want to address issues that affect residents in our various communities. When we sit together, we are no longer partisan. We are now looking at it as elected officials or as civil servants employed by one government.”

Contacted for comment, Kasipo said she was in a meeting.

In a dispensation where the new government has made a commitment to establish provincial councils as dictated by the 2013 Constitution and the opposition MDC Alliance hoping to become more visible in them, Mavhima said that opposition-led councils should not consider themselves totally sovereign.

“Even as we go into devolution, we are still talking about one government, we are still a unitary State. We are not a federal state, we are a unitary State with one government, one President and one Parliament that disseminates information to provincial levels,” he said.

The opposition MDC Alliance won the majority of the urban councils in the July 30 elections, where the ruling Zanu PF party won an overwhelming majority in both presidential and parliamentary seats.

NewsDay

Correspondent|Former Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Muzarabani South, Edward Raradza has appeared before the court facing charges of theft of trust property worth over $10 milion.

Raradza (71) is jointly charged with Mathew Raradza (46) and Thomas Nherera (68) in a case where they are accused of stealing farming equipment worth millions of dollars from the Zimbabwe Farmers Development Company (ZFDC).

They appeared before Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa and were remanded to October 30 on condition that they each pay $300 bail among other bail conditions.

It is the State’s case that that ZFDC was incorporated under the Companies Act as a limited Company on July 4 in 2005. ZFDC controlled a 55% stake in the company while Farmers World Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd held 45% shares.

The scope of ZFDC was to source agricultural equipment from China and sell to eligible farmers on a credit facility.

The court heard that each farmer was to make a deposit of 10% of the total amount of the equipment.

During the period extending from 2005 to 2010, ZFDC obtained agricultural equipment from China Exim Bank valued at $60 000.

Upon the receipt of the agricultural equipment, the three allegedly connived to steal equipment from ZFDC.

It is alleged that they took mining and agricultural equipment worth $9 741 286,79.

M&T

Correspondent|A 25-year-old man who was arrested after re-tweeting a post from a fake Priscilla Chigumba account has stated his wish to make an application to change his guilty plea.

Shadaya Tawona who is being charged with criminal insult after retweeting a message purportedly belonging to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chair Justice Priscilla Chigumba appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

Mugwagwa will on Thursday make a ruling on the application. Shadaya is represented by Zimbabwe Human Rights Lawyer Noble Chinhanu.

During their application they said; “We have noted that when the accused pleaded guilty, it was not put to him whether, the alleged retweet was from the complainant’s real account or a fake account.

“In the event that the retweet was from a legitimate account, then there is no offence to talk of, he would have simply repeated what Chigumba would have said and that is not an offence.

“He is no facing charges of creating the ‘fake’ account and tweeting anything under the guise that he is Chigumba, all he did was simply retweet what had been said and he did not edify the message.”

Prosecutor Francisca Mukumbiri opposed the application indicating that the defense council had not brought any reasonable reasons for changing the plea since Shadaya had allegedly pleaded guilty and had also apologized for the offence before court.

It is the State’s case that sometime in August, an unknown person created an account in the name of Chigumba, the complainant in the case.

In the same month, Shadaya allegedly retweeted an offensive message from the account. His conduct soiled Justice Chigumba’s dignity, it is alleged. Chigumba was allegedly alerted by a friend who came across the message on Twitter. She, however, denied having a twitter account.

Shadaya initially pleaded guilty indicating that he had been drunk when he retweeted the tweet.

M&T

“The soldier who shot my sister acted out of cruelty. My sister was not the type to protest”

"The soldier who shot my sister acted out of cruelty. My sister was not the type to protest" pic.twitter.com/DqcHtOZ1r2

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 17, 2018

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Business mogul Frank Buyanga’s property manager, who is on trial for perjury after claiming that he bought a property for $35 000 from his boss, has petitioned the High Court seeking a review of the trial proceedings, accusing the presiding magistrate of attempting to bolster the State’s case by adopting a wrong procedure.

Through his lawyers, Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, Bishop Jeche, who is also facing a charge of money laundering, filed an application for review at the High Court on October 16 and the matter is yet to be set down for hearing.

According to court papers, Jeche’s application came about after regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya allegedly allowed the State to conduct fresh investigations in the middle of the trial by calling new witnesses.

In his founding affidavit, Jeche said Mujaya overruled his objection when he sought to challenge the State’s intention to call three more witnesses despite the latter not having had their statements recorded and availed to him before he submitted his defence outline.

“This fact is even conceded by the first respondent (Mujaya), which directs that the State serves me with the full statements of the three new witnesses. When the defence outline was prepared on my instructions, it was on the basis of what was presented to me before trial. I gave my legal practitioners specific instructions relating to how to tackle the evidence of witnesses whose statements had been delivered to me. The discovered evidence did not include the statements of the three new witnesses,” he said.

Jeche further argues that the recording of new witness statements midway through the trial would give rise to collusion between the outstanding witnesses and those that have already been excused by the State, resulting in evidence being compromised to his detriment.

“It is common cause that I have already cross-examined two critical witnesses without the benefit of the new witnesses’ statements. I do not have the authority to recall them, neither am I in a position to amend my defence outline. This would result in an unfair trial as the first respondent had deliberately tilted the trial in favour of the State,” he said.

-Newsday

Correspondent| Police in Senga, Gweru, have arrested a male journalism student at the Midlands StateUniversity after he was caught in possession of a collection of female lingerie he allegedly stole from female students at the campus.

Prince Danda was arrested for theft on Monday while in possession of the panties which he allegedly used to satiate his own sexual desires.

According to a voice audio circulated on social media and allegedly belonging to him, Danda told police at Senga in Gweru that he would often sniff at the underwear to feel the female scent and be sexually aroused.

During those moments, he “admits”, he got the much desired female scent while imagining himself having sexual intercourse with the owners for his own sexual gratification.

Danda is due to appear in court soon and if convicted of the crime, he risks being thrown out of MSU for bringing the name of the top university into disrepute.

By Paul Nyathi| The big spending spree at Genius Kadungure’s Club Sankayi in Harare has certainly been a time bomb waiting to explode on some of the big spenders.

One of Kadungure’s big spending regular customers Thulani Roy Dlamini has found himself in trouble after he defrauded the night spot of $87 000 through fake payments for highly expensive alcoholic drinks.

Dhlamini (23) was Tuesday hauled before Harare magistrate, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing theft charges.

According to court papers, during a period stretching from 28 September to 14 October 2018, Dhlamini had become a regular customer as he purchased alcohol from the club on different occasions.

He was to pay by means of electronic transfers into the club’s CABS account.

Court heard that in a bid to steal from the club, Dhlamini created fake payment confirmation messages which he sent to the club using his a Capital Bank account.

Dhlamini, it is further alleged, consumed alcohol of varying amounts, of $10 000, $12 000, $25 000, $4 000 on different occasions and dates.

Each time he took the alcohol, he would send fake confirmation messages to the club claiming he had indeed paid for the alcohol.

Kadungure did not bother to check with the bank during that material time.

After realising that the accused was continuously buying alcohol worth thousands of dollars each time, Ginimbi became suspicious prompting him to visit his bank to confirm the payments.

That is when he discovered that the alleged transactions did not reflect in their bank account.

Prosecutors said the accused person stole alcohol valued at $87 000 and nothing was recovered.

The case continues on trial. Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the state.

MDC Alliance senator Lillian Tiumveos has accused Chinese of taking advantage of Zimbabwe’s crisis to swindle the nation of its resources.

Timveos made the remarks during debate in parliament.

“What I am saying is that this country is one of the richest country in the world.  We have got raw materials, we have got educated people, we have got over 4 to 5 million people that are outside the country that can actually come back and make use of the raw materials.  I actually think the Chinese nationals are taking advantage of us but if we are to implement the devolution provincial councils, these things would not be happening as they are happening,” she said.

“I am giving you an example of reality about the Chinese people, I stay in Zvishavane; they do not even pay workers well.  The workers that are working in these chrome mines get US$5 a day, 7 days a week and they do not even have off days.  If we had these provincial councils, the Government would actually be aware of how our people are being abused.  They even beat up workers, the do not look after us well but you must know that as Zimbabweans we actually respect foreigners more than we respect our own people.”

She said when people  go outside the country, they laugh at them saying ooh those poor people they are here looking for this and that.

“When they come here we handle them with kid gloves, we give them attention.  Yes, let us give them attention, they must come and invest in this country but the first thing we should ask them is what our people are benefiting.  If we are benefiting nothing then they must not get the deal,” she said.

“I really need to support the motion and I really need the Government to really look at this, every Senator should look at this, this is the Constitution.  The Constitution is clear and what I mentioned here, I actually took it from the Constitution which means that we actually agreed in 2013 to do this.  So, why is it so complicated and why must we even debate about this because it should have been done way back.  So, we are hoping that as Hon. Senators let us agree that this has to be done as soon as yesterday.”

-Byo 24

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa last week told over 3 000 Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) graduates that they should create their own jobs or risk sinking into oblivion as formal employment opportunities continue to shrink.

In his acceptance speech as the second Chancellor of the GZU at the institution’s 12th graduation ceremony held at the main campus, Mnangagwa told the graduates to be employment creators.

“As you begin the next phase of life, seek to be creators of wealth and employment. Desire to be positive transformers of your families, communities and the nation at large,” he told the 3 916 graduates.

Zimbabwe is grappling with massive unemployment, estimated to be at over 80%, while government has insisted unemployment was at 15% because the majority of citizens were employed as informal traders.

The country’s various institutions of higher learning annually churn out around 20 000 graduates, without a corresponding expansion of the job market as most major industries have closed while the few remaining have scaled down operations.

Mnangagwa also warned universities against mass enrolment for the sake of raising income as the practice affected the quality of education provision.

“I exhort GZU to increase its relevance, visibility and impact in line with our country’s mordenisation and industrialisation agenda towards the attainment of vision 2030 … In the second republic, institutions of higher learning must no longer merely take pride in student enrolment figures or the glamour of infrastructure,” he said.

He said universities and colleges should provide essential knowledge balanced with the exploitation of natural resources, environmental sustainability and economic development.

The GZU’s current enrolment stands at 15 000, up from 4 000 in 2012, according to its Vice-Chancellor, Rungano Zvobgo.

-Newsday

A crackdown against foreign currency dealers will be rolled out in a few days and is expected to leave top executives in banks, companies and State institutions behind bars, according to Business Times.

A list of the culprits is being kept a closely guarded secret ahead of the arrests.

Corporates which have been abusing their share of foreign currency retained on exports will also be dragged before the courts.

Electronic payments will be scrutinised closely by experts to trace all bad non-productive money being used for illegal foreign currency trade, to source.

Agents in the anti-corruption and various law enforcement units are closely watching a list of individuals whose charges are now believed to have been compiled and now awaiting execution.

“You will be shocked because this includes some top officials who have been charged with responsibilities in our system,” said a close source to the investigations without being drawn to divulge the names and designations of the culprits.

The move, said the source, was expected to go a long way towards abuse of foreign currency and externalisation.

A research by Government revealed that forex dealers on the streets are just but a drop in the ocean, getting supplies from big chefs in key Government institutions and corporates.

“These are just small fish and they are not material. The real foreign currency shenanigans are happening in air-conditioned offices and that is where we are going to in order to stop this,” added the source.

Currently, he said, businesses with access to foreign currency were selling hard cash on the black market to fund their expenses including salaries effectively increasing their profits.

“The businesses retail 70 percent of their foreign currency which they have been abusing. No one cares about that 70 percent, instead all eyes are on the 30 percent at the RBZ which they queue for,” the source said.

“We have to deal with corruption; there is no corruption that happens where there is no witness. Big fish will be caught in the next few days. Senior officials participating in the black market will go down. Don’t worry about these petty currency traders at Eastgate, they are just free injectors. Real transaction in currency or commoditisation of currency is happening in air-conditioned offices, bankers are involved and corporates involved. That’s where the story is,” added the source.

In a op-ed carried by state media today, President Mnangagwa said; “A great threat to our bid to stimulate productive activity in the economy comes by way of non-productive, speculative activities operating below the radar but involving millions in precious foreign currency and bond notes.

“These nefarious activities thrive on different electronic platforms. New measures will be pursued to stop such malpractices.

Corporates with hard cash and individuals, now, prefer a situation where the local dollar value continues tumbling such that they use less hard cash to fulfill their legal obligations in bond notes or RTGS.

The source said indications were that there was complicity on the part of responsible authorities to deal with illegal foreign currency dealers.

“If this economy felt black market is a cost why do we continue having it? We are moving figures not hard cash so these figures are moved electronically. As a result we have a mechanism to trace bad non-productive money to source which means there is complicity on the part of banks and telephone networks.”

— Business Times

Motlanthe Must Go Back To South Africa, Quit This Satanic Inquiry- TRUE or FALSE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 17, 2018

This is Patricia Rizawi (ALSO WATCH VIDEOS)

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One person died while five others were injured in Bulawayo when a motorist who was part of a street drag racing trio lost control of his vehicle and rammed into a pirating Honda Fit in Malindela suburb.

The accident occurred on Monday morning at the intersection of Belloc Avenue and Burns Drive. Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango yesterday said Joshua Dean Leza (28) was drag racing with his two friends who were not named when he lost control of a Toyota Aristo sedan and rammed into the Honda Fit which had five passengers.

“As a result one person died upon admission to Mater Dei Hospital while five others suffered various degrees of injuries. The accused has been arrested and would be charged with culpable homicide,” said Chief Insp Simango.

She urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads as lives were needlessly being lost.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Peterson said on impact the Honda Fit rolled three times before landing on its side.

“It is said that the driver of the Toyota Aristo sedan was racing with two of his friends when the accident occurred. He lost control of the vehicle which was travelling at a high speed, hitting a stationary Honda Fit which was at an intersection resulting in it rolling three times before landing on its side,” he said.

Mr Peterson said the five injured people were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals.

He expressed concern over the trio’s reckless behaviour of drag racing on a busy city road.
Mr Peterson said it was saddening for the emergency department to attend and witness the loss of life due to accidents that could be avoided.

“What is it that they wanted to achieve besides what ended up happening? It does not make sense that they were racing in the city,” said Mr Peterson.

He touched down at the Manyame Air Base at 1850 hours accompanied by his wife Marry, who had travelled for a routine review and Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro.

Speaking to our Harare Bureau after VP Chiwenga’s arrival, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) who is also the Presidential spokesperson, Mr George Charamba said the vice president and his wife were in high spirits.

“He touched down at 1850 hours accompanied by his wife and the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care,” said Mr Charamba.

“Very chatty and jovial both husband and wife hugging officers from his office. Obviously, the couple needs time to rally again. His Excellency the President spoke to the couple this evening (last night) and is set to visit them at their home tomorrow morning (today).”

Mr Charamba cleared the rumour on social media suggesting that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Retired Lieutenant General Sibusiso Moyo also travelled to South Africa for medical attention.

He said Lt Gen Moyo received medical attention at a local hospital and only travelled to South Africa yesterday for a review.

“I also want to correct the impression that was in the market that Lt General SB Moyo was in South Africa,” said Mr Charamba.

“In fact, he was treated at a local hospital and only travelled to South Africa today (yesterday) for a review. He is expected back in a day’s time. It is understood that he had two operations meant to remove some growth in the stomach.”

After the White City Stadium bombing incident, Chiwenga did not receive thorough medical examination since it happened at the height of the July 30 harmonised elections campaign.
He soldiered on to complete the campaign process and after the elections there was pressure of forming the new Government and he could not receive medical attention.

Mr Charamba said Chiwenga also had a bullet lodged in his lung after he was injured around the Chiduku area in Hwedza during the liberation struggle, making it quite urgent to receive a thorough medical examination.

The Bulawayo bombing incident affected Chiwenga and his wife Marry, alongside Vice President Kembo Mohadi and several Government officials and security personnel.

Press Statement|The events that obtained today, October 16, 2018 when police and state security agents tried to block journalists from the public commission of inquiry into the shooting of civilians by the army on August 1, 2018 are regrettable to say the least.

It took intense lobbying for journalists to be finally allowed access into the conference room where the public inquiry was being held. This was after only journalists from the State media, had been allowed access.

The move further exposes the insincerity of the regime in as far as investigating the August 1 shootings and bringing the matter to a logical conclusion is concerned.

CiZC is concerned by the apparent attempt by the regime to try and sweep certain issues under the carpet by blocking the media from reporting on the work and activities of the Commission of Inquiry. Restricting media access to information points to a sinister motive on the part of the government.

As CiZC, we have already expressed our serious reservations concerning the local composition of the Commission of Inquiry.

With local members of the Commission of Inquiry largely being Zanu PF loyalists while some have highly questionable credentials, it seems the commission is aimed at pacifying the international community on the state recklessness that led to innocent souls being lost.

There is an apparent calculated move meant to absolve the state of wrong doing through this compromised Commission of Inquiry.

CiZC reiterates its position that by appointing a dubious Commission of Inquiry, President Mnangagwa has created parallel structures when the Constitution established Constitutional Bodies is Chapter 12 (Independent Commissions Supporting Democracy).

We are on record that the state ought to strengthen the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to undertake work of this nature as provided for under Section 243 (1) of the Constitution.

CiZC maintains that just like in the past years, the blame for the murder of civilians on August 1 lies squarely with the government of Zimbabwe. Because of party-state conflation, ZANU PF has shown beyond any reasonable doubt that they are prepared to use state resources to cling to power and block public access to critical information on public/national investigations.

It also has to be noted that Zimbabwe has a history of organized killings of innocent civilians at the hands of the government In some cases, there hasn’t been any attempt to investigate the issues while in other cases, government has completely expressed ignorance or chosen to keep quite on the murder and torture of civilians.

Some of the cases that have never been openly investigated include the Gukurahundi massacres which resulted in the death of more than 20 000 civilians as well as the murder of nearly 300 opposition activists in the June 2008 run-off election.

It has to be noted also that since the formation of the country’s biggest opposition in 1999, the country has continued to witness torture and murder of opposition activists and these issues have largely been ignored by Zanu PF as violence and murder reign supreme among their tactics to retain power. If anything, Zanu PF, despite its claims of a peaceful and tolerant party, has not and can never be expected to dismantle its violence machinery.

It is justifiable to conclude that the August 1 shootings were pre-meditated especially taking into consideration sentiments from senior Zanu PF officials that President Mnangagwa will shoot for power and also that the army stands ready to block opposition rule in the country .

Given the above, it is reasonable again to conclude that the motive behind the shootings is well-known.

As CiZC, we would like to kindly remind President Mnangagwa that while the so called Commission of Inquiry is ‘at work’ his order for police to swiftly act and bring the murderers of two year old, Professor Lumbe who was killed in June 2018 in Glendale has not yielded any fruit.

Professor’s alleged murderers are known Zanu PF activists who killed the minor after his father left Zanu PF for the opposition.

For and on Behalf of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Tabani Moyo

Spokesperson

The European Union Electoral Observer Mission (EU-EOM) has urged Zimbabwe’s government institutions to objectively analyse their report.

EU-EOM Deputy Chief Observer, Mark Stevens made the remarks when he met the Parliamentary Legal Committee today.

Chairperson of the committee, Honorable Jonathan Samukange said they will analyse the report and the recommendations, and see which ones they can incorporate in the on-going harmonisation of the country’s laws.

-State Media

Most basic commodities are back on the shelves despite still maintaining high prices which continue to present a burden on the consumers.

Most items, among them, day to day basics such as rice, cooking oil, washing powder, and meat have remained astronomically high beyond the reach of many ordinary Zimbabweans.

Herald employee narrates his account:
On 1 August I got to Market Square at 11.30. When I disembarked from the kombi, I saw a group of people who were singing. These people were singing while walking along Mbuya Nehanda road coming to Market Square. As a person traveling to work, I normally take 15 min ffrom Mrket Square to Herald House, which is my work place.

I proceeded to Herald House I got there at 11.50. We assumed duty well, but when it was around 1420hrs, we heard voices of people who were singing. We went to 4th Floor trying to peep through so that we could see people who were singing. We then saw people we were able to identify as MDC youths wearing red t shirts who were singing political songs, coming from Jason Moyo getting into 2nd Street. They passed through the Herald House and went into Nelson Mandela proceeding to the former MDC headquarters Harvest House. They took a bit of time while they were there, maybe for about 15 to 20 minutes. After that they returned singing along 2nd Street, and they got into Jason Moyo going towards 4th street. In no time at all, we saw some smoke suggesting that something had been burnt. At that moment we then saw a group of people singing returning using Jason Moyo. We then gave our guards instructions to close the entrance door to 2nd Street.

QUESTION: From what you observed this group you saw returning, was it the same group that you had seen previously?

ANSWER: I do think so but I think when they returned the number had increased.

These people when they returned to herald House, they tried to enter into our 2nd Street entrance. They saw that we had locked our doors. They then started throwing stones… Two stones hit the 1st Floor and two big window panes were subsequently damaged. Others turned towards the George Silundika when they got there they tried to forcefully enter, however the doors had been locked. One of them picked a big stone which was across the road, using that big stone…I would like to believe that he thought the door would be …. (sic) When they realised that they could not open the road, the proceeded to …. They continued singing political songs while returning to Hrvest House. I observed that they then began sounding out what sounded like their political party slogans.

At 1545 hrs, we went to make a police report at a police post which is 1st Street. That is all that I can say which transpired on the 1st August at my workplace.

QUESTION: 2 questions – re you able to tell the commission what it is that they were singing?

ANSWER: Like what I said before, they were singing political songs.

QUESTION: Did you hear what they were singing?

ANSWER: Yes I heard some of the songs.

QUESTIONS: Are you able to tell the commission?

ANSWER: I am not in a position to sing what they were singing…

One of them was leading as they were singing , then others were also supporting as they were singing, so their song which I will quote in vernacular – “VachiDiki Tinoda Chamisa!”

…

…

QUESTION:

ANSWER: Some of them were visibly drunk especially those who were leading.

ANYTHING ELSE ELSE YOU MAY WANT TO SAY?

ANSWER: No none…

QUESTION: The Chair may have questions.

HEARING IS ADJOURNED

Correspondent|United Nations Women says rural women and girls worldwide face daily challenges of access to sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection.

In a statement, UN Women said, “The ubiquity of these challenges offers a large scope for change so that they no longer dominate and constrain women’s and girls’ lives.”

UN Women said rural women make up 43% of the agricultural labour force in developing countries, in work that is time- and labour-intensive, informal and poorly paid, with little social protection or income security.

“Child labour is prevalent in rural areas, with girls forming a significant part of the agricultural workforce. Women and girls are responsible for water collection in 80% of households without access to safe drinking water. This work is arduous and will only become harder as water shortages increase.

“The journey to collect water also poses safety risks. Without adequate water and sanitation facilities, women and girls are exposed to illness, violence and other risks to their safety. These deficits also hamper their ability to get a good education, earn an income and move around freely.”

UN Women further said fuel collection, which can take as much as five hours every day, and cooking with unclean fuels can result in long-term and even fatal health problems for women. “In countries that rely heavily on fuels like coal, wood, manure or crop waste for cooking, women account for 6 out of every 10 premature deaths through household air pollution.

“Sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection are central to progress. Measures to improve their delivery can bring both immediate relief and lifelong benefits. For instance, enhanced access to safe drinking water and sanitation brings gains in girls’ education when children stay longer in school, as well as increases in women’s paid work to generate goods and provide services. Extending the reach of water grids and continuous piped drinking water to rural communities is therefore an important priority with multiple benefits.”

UN Women noted that rural women’s civil society organizations, enterprises and cooperatives are critical in mobilizing rural women, supporting their voice, agency and representation in political and economic spheres, and enabling them to influence the decisions and institutions that affect their lives.

“Around the world, rural women have mobilized to secure water for irrigation and household use, and renewable energy for lighting their homes and powering small businesses. Resourcefully, rural women’s cooperatives are providing childcare services for and by their members. But small-scale solutions are not enough. They must be joined by large-scale institutional initiatives that invest in a different future, in which women and girls participate and benefit equally to men and boys.”

In marking International Day of Rural Women, UN Women urged the international community to work with rural women and girls everywhere and to invest in the sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection that can revolutionize their livelihoods, well-being and resilience.

VOA

Bulawayo town clerk, Christopher Dube, has said local business people were failing to come up with competitive tenders, which leads to them losing out to Harare-based firms.

Companies in Bulawayo have accused the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) of deliberately awarding tenders to Harare-based firms.

But responding to questions from businesspeople who attended the local authority’s 2018 budget consultations recently, Dube said companies in the city had themselves to blame as their tenders were poor.

“We are a local authority and we should also, as much as possible, try and protect our local businesspeople because if we (don’t do) that, we will have businesses that benefit people from other local authorities,” Dube said.

“But, however, let me also indicate to you that tenders by their very nature are competitive. You will just have to compete and win. The biggest problem is that our local businesspeople, when it comes to tendering — their tenders, are very poor.”

Dube said it was not the local companies’ problem alone, but theirs as a local authority because “we have got a business desk; we also have a procurement management unit which should also reach out to the community to tell them what is expected of tenders so that you are able also to compete with other businesses from other local authorities.”

Dube said crying foul would not help the local businesspeople.

“It’s a competitive world. Crying at this age does not help us, but do corrective measures,” he said.

Dube said they intended to practice “segregation” during tendering to benefit local business people.

“The segregation I’m talking about here is that of tendering, to say if we are making a tender as local authority, we should actually give advantages for that tender to local business people,” he said.

“To say maybe if there is a difference of 5% in the value regardless of the 5% higher bid for the local tender, let’s take the local one but that needs to be done properly in terms of the law, have a policy of council adopted by a way of a resolution….once that is done then we can do it. That I promise you we will do.”

NewsDay

By Paul Nyathi|At the insistence of Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Police and City of Bulawayo authorities have decided to close off the busy intersections at Samuel Parirenyatwa road with Herbert Chitepo and on Fort Streets everyday between 7:30am and 5:30pm.

The move to close the roads come after Chief Justice Malaba complained that there was too much noise and illegal trading from outside affecting the operations inside the courts.

Opening three new courtrooms at the Bulawayo High Court last week, the country’s top judge, demanded for the removal of Osiphatheleni, taxis and other people involved in activities around Tredgold Building which houses the Bulawayo Magistrates Courts.

The illegal money changers always play cat and mouse games with the police and have refused to vacate the environs of the courts, popularly known as the World Bank, due to the availability of cash in different currencies.

Malaba said it is “unhealthy” for such things to be carried out on the doorstep of the courts.

He at the time indicated that the Judiciary Services Commission (JSC) had already engaged the Bulawayo City Council in a quest to restore sanity on the court’s surroundings which engagement may have led to the shutting down of the street.

In his speech Malaba said council should find a permanent solution to the problem of osiphatheleni.

“May I also register the JSC’s appreciation of the support the Bulawayo City Council has given us. They have been cooperating right through with the JSC in seeking to find a permanent solution to the congestion outside Tredgold Building.

“We are concerned about it and we have expressed our concern and I’m certain that the Bulawayo City Council fathers will take further steps to correct the situation.

“It’s not a healthy situation to have illegal activities taking place just outside the fountain of justice” he said.

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